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The Kapers of Koko Children's Storybook Illustrations by Charles Conner Original Art Group of 15 plus P...
Description
The Kapers of Koko Children's Storybook Illustrations by Charles Conner Original Art Group of 15 plus Published Book signed to Grim Natwick (The Southwest Syndicate, 1931). Wow, children's book art fans, have we got an interesting group for you! Charles Conner's The Kapers of Koko is presented across these 15 original storybook illustrations. Conner was a layout/background artist for Walt Disney who worked on films like Fantasia (for "Dance of the Hours") and the 1941 Mickey Mouse classic shorts The Nifty Nineties and The Little Whirlwind. For Walter Lantz, Conner worked on the promotional cartoon Boy Meets Dog (1938). Beyond that, little is known about this impressive artist. The "Koko" in this book is not the groundbreaking Max Fleischer clown, but a little black bear cub with fuzzy ears and wide oval-shaped eyes, featuring brightly colored art done in a distinctly Art Deco style (eight pieces are in gouache while another seven are black and white in pen and ink). Included is the wrap-around cover (image size approximately 14.25" x 9.25" in a 20" x 15" white mat; the Title Page (image 7.75" x 9.75" on 12" x 16.5"); a black and white illo for page 7 (image 7" x 4.5", mat 11.5" x 9.25"); a snowy scene from page 9 (image 7.5" x 10.5", mat 15" x 19.5"); Koko on a ship deck from page 13 (image 8" x 5", mat 17.75" x 15"); Koko helping to raise a carnival tent, page 15 (image 6.5" x 8.5"); a B&W illo of Koko and Lady Bear, page 18 (image 6.75" x 6.5", mat 15" x 19.25"); Koko with a big fish, page 20 (image 8" x 5", mat 17.75" x 18"); Koko underwater, page 25 (image 6.75" x 8.5", board 8" x 10.75"); B&W illo of Koko on horseback, page 26 (image 4.5" x 5.75", mat 8" x 10.25"); B&W illo of Koko looking toward Arabian-style city, page 27 (image 4.75" x 6.25"); and Koko in a city market, page 28 (image 6" x 7.5", mat 15" x 19"). There are also three additional B&W illustrations that do not appear in the book: an image of Koko chasing away a cloaked stranger (image size 6.25" x 6", mat 10" x 13"); Koko with a Sultan (image 8.5" x 5.5", mat 11.75" x 9.75"); and a graytone image of the ancient city (image 7.25" x 11", mat 15" x 20"). Most pieces are signed (as Charles Conner, Chas Conner, or Conner). A copy of the book, itself a rarity that often sells for $150, is also included; this copy was hand-signed and inscribed by Mr. Conner to animation legend Grim Natwick. The art ranges from Good to Very Good with some minor handling and board toning and edge wear on the mats and artboards.Auction Info
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Signature® Internet Session - The Art of Disney - No Floor or Phone Bidding (Mail, Fax, Internet, and Heritage Live):
(Lots 18001-18361) - 10:00 AM Central Time, Sunday, December 14, 2025.
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Heritage Auctions
2801 W. Airport Freeway
Dallas, TX 75261
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